Blister element for product package

ABSTRACT

Blister shells for packages each have a product receiving area having a substantially round configuration defined, at least in part, by an angled wall. At least one spacing lug is located on an inside surface of the angled wall and at least one anti-rotation boss is located on an inside surface of the angled wall. The at least one spacing lug and the at least one anti-rotation boss keep the plurality of blister shells arranged in a uniform direction during package assembly, and keep products within the blisters from rotating within the blisters of the packages.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/451,376, filed on Mar. 10, 2011, the entiretyof which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present arrangement relates to a packaging arrangement. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a packaging arrangement forfishing reels and the like for display and presentation to a consumer.

2. Description of the Related Art

Several techniques are used by retail facilities to display fishingreels for sale to consumers. For example, reels may be stored in paperboxes, which can be opened to allow access to the reel inside. Oneadvantage of this technique is that the consumer will have theopportunity to operate the reel prior to purchase. Due to shopliftingconcerns, however, many retail stores will only locate boxed reelsbehind a sales counter. As a result, the consumer may not be able tooperate the reel except in the presence of a salesperson. In addition,boxed reels are generally not suitable for hanging, or so-called “pegboard” display.

Alternatively, reels may be packaged in a “blister pack,” i.e., a sealedpackage made of transparent and semi-rigid plastic material. Typically,a blister pack will include a hanging aperture for peg board display. Inaddition, the transparent nature of the blister pack permits the reel tobe visually inspected by a consumer.

Because the blister packs tend to be clear, the items inside arevisible. Although this is ideal for allowing a customer to see theactual product prior to sale unlike with closed boxes, this presents aproblem regarding uniformity of product/packaging.

For example, ideally all packages look the same so they look nice on adisplay shelf. Additionally, if the product itself within the package ismarked with certain information and/or logos then, package to package,this information on the product which is visible through the transparentblister pack should be uniformly arranged so that they look pleasing tothe consumer. In the example of fishing reels, such as round fly fishingreels, in existing packaging equipment, it is difficult to get all ofthe products to be uniformly arranged within their corresponding blisterpacks so that the labels/information/logos on the products end upuniformly arranged within the blisters, particularly in high speedauto-packaging machines.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY

The present arrangement provides for a transparent plastic container foruse in automatic commercial product packaging machines, for items suchas fishing reels, which simultaneously configures the products beingpackaged into uniform upright positions as well as holds the product insuch packaging during shipping so that when they are eventuallydisplayed on a rack or peg board, the products therewithin are uniformlyarranged.

To this end the present arrangement provides for blister shells forpackages. The blister shells each comprise a product receiving areahaving a substantially round configuration defined, at least in part, byan angled wall. At least one spacing lug is located on an inside surfaceof said angled wall and at least one anti-rotation boss is located on aninside surface of said angled wall. The at least one spacing lug and theat least one anti-rotation boss keep the plurality of blister shellsarranged in a uniform direction during package assembly, and keepproducts within the blisters from rotating within the blisters of thepackages.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a planar view of the blister and card package according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a planar view of the blister and product according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 3 is a planar view of the blister and card package in an unsealedposition according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a stack of shells or blisters accordingto one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a blister according to one embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a close up of the inside of a blister according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a cross section view of two blisters in a nesting arrangementaccording to one embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a planar view of a stacked blister;

FIG. 9 is a dose up side view of the top and bottom portions of the lugsin stacked blisters according to one embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a planar view of the blister illustrating the anti-rotationboss according to one embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the stacked blisters illustrating theanti-rotation bosses according to one embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a planar view of the blister with a square the cut accordingto one embodiment; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the blister with a square the cutaccording to one embodiment.

DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of illustration, the following description will be fora package including a round blister for the purpose of storing a fishingreel. However, this is for exemplary purposes only. The features of thebelow described packages implemented on packages for other applicablecommercial products are within the contemplation of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 1, package 10 includes a shell or blister 12 of aselected plastic such as PETG which is polyethylene terephthalate usingcyclohexane dimethanol (CHDM) in place of ethylene glycol forming aclear amorphous thermoplastic that can be injection molded and acardboard backing 14. The design of package 10 is such that fishing red16 is placed within shell 12 in a circular, spooled orientation asillustrated in FIG. 2.

Preferably, cardboard backing 14 of package 10 may define a hangaperture 24 spaced from the configured blister 12 reel enclosure. Asshown in FIG. 3, cardboard backing 14 of the package has two halves 26and 28; one half 28 has a die cut 29 to fit plastic shell 12. Asdescribed below, plastic shell 12 is positioned within the cut 29 ofcardboard backing 14. The two halves of cardboard backing 14 are sealedtogether with plastic shell 12 placed in the cut. As shown in FIG. 3,and as shown in more detail below, two halves 26 and 28 of cardboardbacking 14 are eventually sealed together at the edges 31, as denoted bythe cross hatching 26.

In one embodiment of the present arrangement, a tab portion 28 projectsfrom shell 12, and is also sealed within the sealed edges 31 ofcardboard backing 14 in order to prevent rotation of blister 12 withinthe cardboard backing 14. In this way, when closed, and when tab 28 isbroken by rotation by the user, plastic shell 12 is free to rotate aboutthe cut 29 in cardboard backing 14. A separate brake away tab 22corresponds to a perforated tab at a corner of cardboard 14 which can bepulled away so as to provide access to the product inside, such as afishing reel within shell 12, so that a consumer dispenses fishing lineas needed.

Turning to the arrangement of shells 12 for shipping and use in anautomatic packaging system, referring to FIG. 4, during production ofpackage 10, plastic shells 12 are typically stacked, nesting one insidethe other.

As a first point, in order to be able to pull a shell 12 from the stack,shells 12 must have an optimal space between one another. When the taperof the body of shell 12 is at an angle greater than 10 degrees, there isprovided a natural spacer which allows the shells to be dispensed fromthe stack when placed in a magazine for packaging assembly. However,when the taper of a shell 12 is at an angle less than 10 degrees, shells12 tend to be “sticky” and cannot easily be pulled apart from the stackin auto feeding package assembly machines. As such, the presentarrangement forms the angles of shells 12 so that shells 12 are properlyspaced from one another within a stack so that they can be easilydispensed from an auto feeding apparatus in the packaging machine.

Further to this end, referring to FIGS. 5 through 7, de-nesting or spacelugs 18 are arranged around the periphery of each of shells 12exhibiting a dual function. In the first case, from the packaged productstandpoint, they act to lock the product, such as round fishing spool's16 in place within shell 12 so that they do not rotate after shells 12are closed within cardboard backing 14.

The second advantage of space lugs 18 is that they serve as addednesting spacers between shells 12 within a stack in addition to theangled shape of shells 12. As shown in FIG. 7, these nesting spacers 18provide a definite space 30 between shells (e.g. shells 12 a and 12 b),with the interior lugs 18 contacting an upper surface 32 of theimmediately lower shell 12 b. This leaves the lower edges of shells 12separated from one another for easy grabbing by the auto loadingpackaging machine with additional spacing above each shell so that novacuum/suction prevents easy separation of shells.

FIGS. 8 and 9 provide additional illustration of this dual functionalityfor lugs 18. The top portions of lugs 18 act as locks, locking productspool 16 into blister shell 12. The bottom portions of lugs 18 act asspacers, keeping blister shells 12 separated when stacked together.

Turning now to the assembly of completed package 10, with product 16correctly oriented and secured within closed sheds 12 and packaged inconnection with cardboard backing 14. The dispensing of shells 12, inproduction, must be dispensed from the stack in a magazine in a specificorientation so that they are placed in the appropriate position withincardboard backing 14 in order to ensure that break away tab 22 is alwayspositioned on an area of cardboard 14 where adhesive sealant will beplaced.

In order to be certain that shell 12 is dispensed in the properorientation, anti-rotational bosses 20, which are preferably triangularshaped and tapered, are positioned around the periphery of shell 12 nearde-nesting lugs 18 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10. Bosses 20prevent shell 12 from rotating while stacked, such as under thevibrations and rotation forces imparted by the packaging machines duringoperation. Shells 12 remain in the same position when stacked in orderto guarantee that they are optimally positioned once dispensed to beplaced in cardboard backing 14. In FIG. 6, four such bosses are shown,however the invention is not limited in this respect. Such bosses 20,although shown as tapered, can be any orientation, sizing or grooving sothat the shells remain in the same position when stacked in order toensure that they will be optimally positioned once dispensed. Forexample, boss 20, can have a plurality of grooves, a plurality ofindents, ridges or anything else that functions as a position guide. Oneor more bosses 20 can be positioned along the peripheral edge of theshell.

In an alternative arrangement, FIGS. 10 and 11 show an anti-rotationbosses 34 positioned in the center of blister shell 12. When stacked,boss 34 interlocks with boss 34 of blister shell 12 stacked immediatelybelow. Due to the pyramid shape of bosses 34, when blisters 12 arestacked, and bosses 34 are interlocked, rotation of blisters 12 isprevented, ensuring that blisters 12 are optimally positioned oncedispensed from the stack.

In yet another alternative arrangement, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13,blisters 12 include at least one square cut edge to allow for easyalignment when blisters 12 are stacked, as discussed above. As withde-nesting lugs 18 and anti-rotation bosses 20 and/or 34, one square cutedge, may be used by alternatively designed auto-feeding mechanisms toprevent rotation of blisters 12 when stacked. It is noted that thesquare cut shape for one corner of blister 12 is intended as anexemplary shape only. Such shape may be triangular the cut, pentagonalthe cut, hexagonal the cut etc.

While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes orequivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore,to be understood that this application is intended to cover all suchmodifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of theinvention.

1. Blister shells for packages, said blister shells each comprising: aproduct receiving area having a substantially round configurationdefined, at least in part, by an angled wall; at least one spacing luglocated on an inside surface of said angled wall; and at least oneanti-rotation boss located on an inside surface of said angled wall,wherein said at least one spacing lug and said at least oneanti-rotation boss keep said plurality of blister shells arranged in auniform direction during package assembly, and wherein said at least onespacing lug and said at least one anti-rotation boss keep productswithin said blisters from rotating within said blisters of saidpackages.
 2. The blister shells as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidangled wall of said product receiving area is angled at 10 degrees orgreater.
 3. The blister sheds as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidblister shells further comprise a brake away tab corresponding to aperforated tab located on a corner of a cardboard backing for saidblister shell.
 4. The blister shells as claimed in dam 1, wherein aplurality of spacing lugs are distributed about said inside surface ofsaid angled wall.
 5. The blister shells as claimed in claim 4, whereinsaid spacing lugs are shaped and dimensioned such that they lock aproduct within blister shell so that said product does not rotate aftersaid blister shell is closed.
 6. The blister shells as claimed in claim4, wherein said spacing lugs are shaped and dimensioned such that theyadd spacing between blister shells within a stack.
 7. The blister shellsas claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of anti-rotation bosses aredistributed about said inside surface of said angled wall.
 8. Theblister shells as claimed in claim 7, wherein a plurality ofanti-rotation bosses are distributed near spacing lugs.
 9. The blistershells as claimed in claim 7, wherein said plurality of anti-rotationbosses are shaped as any one of triangular and tapered, a plurality ofgrooves, a plurality of indents, and a plurality of ridges.